Electric railway signaling device.



F. S. HART.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 15. 1913.

1 1 20,8 1 3, Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

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F. S. HART.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

AEPLIOATION FILED 001215. 1913.

1 1 20,813, Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

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To all whom it may concern lie it lrnown that I, FRED S. Hear, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented 'a. new. and ,useful Improvement in Electric Railway Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specification. I I

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric railway signaling devices. i

1n cities and towns the buildings and other objects standing upon streets and roads which crossa car line,'often make it extremely difficult for the drivers of vehicles and pedestrians to observe an approaching car untilthey are nearly upon it.

Then itis frequently too late to stop, and an accident is invariably the result. I

The object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a simple and effective device to be hung or displayed prominently at street intersections and other. dangerouspoints, to warn the drivers of vehicles and otherson either side of it, of approaching electric cars.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a. front view of my improved signaling device, with the front portion of the casing removed. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. Sis an elevational view of the trolley wheel in contact with the trolley and auxiliary wires for the purpose of completing an electric circuit through the operating mechanism of my device. Fig. e is a detail plan view of the switch which closes the light and motor circuits. And Figgfiis a top plan view of the trolley wire, auxiliary wire, and supporting arms. M

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference characters denote corresponding parts.

In a detailed description of my invention, 1 designates a box-shaped casing provided with a partition 2 in the upper port-ion. thereof, for supporting the motor, magnet" and indicator lifting mechanism.

Suitably mounted upon the partition 2 near its middle portion, is a,motor 3 having fast on its armature shaft 4, a gear 5. Normally in mesh with said gear 5 is alarge gear 6 fast on a shaft 7 journaled in two standards 8. These standards are disposed in parallel'relation with each other, and are supported by the movable members 9 of hinges 1,0 firmly secured to the partition 2. Accordingly, the standards 8 may have an S ecificatioii of Letters Patent. I Pwtgntgd Deg, 15, 1914, I Application filed Gctober 15,1913. Serial No. 795,388.

angular movement on the hinges 10 to move the gear 6 into and out ofmesh withfthe gear 5 for reasons to be hereinafter explained. i

I The gear wheel 6 is fast on that end of the shaft 7 which extends beyond the right hand standard 8, to clear or be out of the way of a metallic bar or member 11 whichconnects the upper ends of said standards. Mounted upon a standard 12 secured to the partition 2, 1n a position to attract to them the bar 11,

are two electric magnets 13 disposed in parallel relation to each other. When ener-' gized, the magnets 13 will draw the bar 11 toward them a sufficient distance to., c"ause the standard 8 to draw thegear 6 out of engage mentwith the gear 5, for reasons nowflto, be explained. (See Fig. 1.) I a f Adapted to be wound upon the. shaft"? is a cable 14:, the upper end. of which is firmly secured to a disk 1 1- fasten said shaft.

Secured to the lower end of said cable, which extends downwardly through an opening in the partition 2, is an elongated member-.15, preferably colored and constructed of metal.

The normal position of this member is withinthe box 1, being held there by'a cablel l, the upper portion of the latter being wound upon the shaft 7 which is held against movement bythe gear 6 engaging-the gear5 on the armature shaft 1 of said motor.

However, when the magnets 13 are energized, the

gear 6 will be drawn out of engagement with the gear 5 as hereinbefore explained whereupon. the member 15 by its own weight which is suflicient to overcome the inertia of the shaft 7 and gear 6, but not of the motor 3, will drop down quickly through a slot in the bottom (of said casing, being guided in such'movement by a slotted block 15 The further downward movement of sa-id'me'mher will be restrained when a. ball. 16 onsaid cable engages, and moves the forked end 17 of a knife arm 18 into its lowermost posi tion between the contact bars 19 of a switch 20 secured to the lower side of the partition 2. When this point is reached in the downward travel of the cable 1 1, the indicating member 15 will be visible a sufiicient distance below the bottom. of-the casing 1 to serve as a warning tothe drivers of vehicles and others that an electric car is approachits an additional warning of an approach ing electric car, and one which will bevisible at night, is an incandescent lamp 21 which depends from a socket 22 secured to the lower side of the partition 2 near the left hand wall of the casing 1. That this light may be seen beyond the casing 1, two colored glasses 23, preferably convex and one on each side of said lamp in the casing, are provided, which color and make visible to those on both sides of it, the light emitted by the lamp 21.

The means provided for raising and lowering the indicator 15, and lighting the lamp 21, will now be explained. t isintended that the warning signals displayed by my improved device, shall be controlled by an approaching electric car. Accordingly, wherever an indicator is placed, there is run parallel with the trolley wire 2% between points on either side of said indicator, an auxiliary wire 25. (See Fig. 3). These points are located far enough apart to insure the operation of the indicator for an adequate period beforehand, to warn vehicle drivers and oth ers of the approaching car. For the purpose of supporting the wires 2 1 and 25 between the points above indicated, there is provided at frequent intervals a downwardly dependinginsulated arm 26 the lower end of which receives an ear 2? to which the trolley wire 2% issecured, and another insulated arm 28 pivoted to the first, which likewise receives an ear 29 to which the trolley wire 25 is secured. (See Figs. 3 and 5.) The arms 26 and 28are connected by a spring 30; a pin 31 on the arm 26 traveling within a circumferential slot 32 in the upper end of the arm 28 limiting the inward and outward movement of said arms with respect to each other. The arm 28 will be drawn inwardly by the spring 30 until the pin 31 reaches the lower end of the slot 32, when a further inward movement of said arm will be restrained. lVhen the pin 31 is in the lower end of the slot 32, the auxiliary wire 25 is in such position relative to the wire 2% that one flange 33 of a trolley wheel 3 1 may enter between said wires and force the wire 25 outwardly to the position it occupies in Fig, 3. It may be said here that the outer ends of each wire 25 may be curved outwardly to admit of a ready entrance of the flange 33 between the wires 2 1 and 25. (See Fig. 5.)

When the flange 33 is in contact with both the wires 21 and 25, electric current willpass from the first named wire, through the trolley wheel 3%, into the auxiliary wire 25, and thence through a connecting wire 34 which taps the wire at 25 at any convenient place and leads to a binding post 35 mounted on a base 38 supported by-the casing 1. (See Fig. 1). A wire 37 conducts the current from said binding post to the coils of the magnets 13, and a wire 38 returns it to a binding post 39 mounted on said base 36, and from there it 1s conducted into the ground 39 by a wire 39 to be returned to the power house generator. Accordingly, when the trolley wheel trolley wheel 34: first contacts with the wire .25, the indicator 15 is in its highest position within the casing 1, and is held in such position by the engagement of the gear 6 with the gear 5, as hereinbefore explained. Now, when the magnets 13 are energized by the current which passes through them when the trolley wheel 3 1 contacts with the auxiliary wire 25, they will draw toward them the bar 11 and hinged standards to which it is connected.- The gear 6 will then be drawn by the shaft 7 journaled in the upper ends of said standards, out of engagement with the gear 5, whereupon the indicator 15 will quickly drop into its lowermost position below the casing 1, as before explained. For the purpose of raising said indicator 15 and lighting the lamp 21, the following means are provided. A binding post -11 mounted in the base 36, is adapted to receive a wire d1 connecting said post with the trolley wire 24: or any other source of current. Connected to said binding post is a wire 12 which leads into the switch 20. To the opposite side of said switch a cable a3 is connected which divides at a point 44 into two branches and 16, the branch 45 entering the lamp socket 22 of thelamp '21 and the other branch 16 leading to the motor 3. A return branch 47 from the lamp 21 and another 418 from the motor 3, meet at a point 41:9 to form a cable 50 which is connected to the wire 38 at the point 51, which latter wire leads to the binding post 39 connected to the ground as before stated.

As before explained, when the indicator 15 drops, the ball 16 on the cable 14: contacts with the forked end 17 of the knife arm 18 of the switch 20, to force said arm into engagement with the contact bars 19. This con1- pletes the circuit between the wire 12 and cable 43, whereupon electric current will travel from the binding post 11, through the switch 20, to the lamp 21 and motor 3, from whence it will return to the groundthrough the wires and connections before explained. Therefore, when the circuit through the lamp and motor is closed by the switch 20, the lamp 21 will be lighted and the motor 3 operated. When the trolley wheel 34 leaves the auxiliary wire 25', the magnet circuit is'broken, and a spring 52 connected to each of the standards 8 draws the gear 6 again into engagement with the gear 5. Accordingly, the lamp and motor circuit being already closed by the switch 20, and the gears 5 and 6 being in mesh, the motor 3 will rotate the shaft 7 through said gears, to wind upon it the. c ble 14 which will raise from view the indicator 15. The lamp 21 will remain lighted and the motor 3 in operation until a ball 53 on the cable 14: engages the forked end 17 of the knife arm 18, to raise said arm out of engagementwith the contact bars 19, whereupon the circuit through the switch 20 will be broken, the lamp 21 extinguished and the motor 3 stopped. The indicator 15 is now in a position to be again exposed to view when another trolley wheel 34 closes the magnet cir-' cuit. V

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when a car' approaches the place where an indicatoris stationed, the trolley wheel will make contact with the auxiliary wire 25 to complete a circuit through the magnets 13, whereupon the gears 5 and 6 will be disengaged to permit the indicator to drop quickly into its" exposed position beneath the casing 1, to serve as a Warning of.

the approaching'car. In its descent the cable 14 supporting said indicator, will operate a switch to complete an independent circuit through the electric lamp and motor, whereupon the lamp will be lighted and the motor operated to draw the indicator 15 upwardly into its normal position after the magnet circuit is broken.

I do notwish to be limited to the details of construction and arrangement hereinshown and described, and any changesor modifications may be made therein to suit difierent conditions of use. I

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an electric railway signaling device, a casingtherefor, an opening provided in the bottom portion of said casing, an indi cator movable through said opening, indicator-supporting mechanism, electrically-operated means adapted to engage said indicatorsupporting mechanism to raise said indica tor and hold it within the casing, magnet mechanism adapted to draw .the indicatorsupporting mechanism out of engagement with said electrically-operated means, whereby the indicator may drop below the casing, and means to limit the downward movement of said indicator and complete a circuit through the electrically-operated means by which the indicator may be raised to its normal position within the casing after said electrically-operated means and indicatorsupporting mechanism are again in engage- I ment, substantially as described.

2. In an electric railway signaling device, a casing therefor, a slot provided in the bottom portion of said casing, an indicator movable through said slot, indicator-supporting mechanism, a motor adapted to be engaged by said indicator-supporting mech anism to raise and hold said indicator with in the casing, magnet mechanism adapted to draw the indicator-supporting mechanism out of engagement with said. motor, whereby the indicator may drop below the casing, and means to limit the downwardmovement of said indicator and close any electric circuit through said motor by which the indicator I may be raised to its normal posit on Wlt-hlIi the casing aftersaid motor and 1116 110211101? supporting mechanism are again in engage ment, substantially as described.

V 8. In an electric railwa si nalin device b D i 7 a casing therefor, a slot provided in the bottom portion of said casing, an indicator movable through said slot, indicator-sup porting mechanism, a motor adapted to be approaching electric car for closing and dil opening said circuit,said magnet mechanism adapted to draw the indicator-supporting mechanism out of engagement with said motor when the magnet circuit is closed,

whereby the indicator may drop below the casing, means for drawing the indicatorsupporting mechanism again into en age ment with the motor after the magnet circuit is open, and a switch adaptedto limit the downward movement of saidindicator and close an electric circuit through said motor by which said indicator may be raised to its normal position within the casing after said motor and indicator-supporting mechanism are again in engagement, substantially as described.

i. In an electric railwaysignaling device, a casing therefor, a slot provided in the bottom portion of said ,easing,'an indicator movable through said slot, indicator supporting mechanism, a motor adapted to be engaged by said indicator supporting mechanism to raise and hold said indicator within the casing, magnet mechanism, an electric circuit for thesame, means controlled by an inc s i approaching electric car for closing and: I

opening said circuit, said magnet mechanism adapted 'to drawthe indicator-supporting by the indicator may drop below the casing,

resilient means for drawing the indicator supporting mechanism again 1 into engage:

ment with the motor after the magnet circuit is open, and means to limit the downward mechanism out of engagement with said inc- 1 tor when the-magnet circuit is closed, wheremovement of said indicator and close an electric circuit through said motor by which I said indicator may be raised to its normal position within the casing after said motor and indicator supporting mechanism are again in engagement, substantially as de scribed.

5. In an electric railway signaling device,

for the same, means controlled by an approaching electric car for closing and opening said circuit, said magnet mechanism adapted to draw the indicator supporting mechanism out of. engagement with said motor when the magnet circuit is closed, whereby the indicator may drop below the casing, resilient means for drawing the indicatorupporting mechanism again into engagement with the motor after the magnet circuit is open, an electric circuit for the motor, an electric lamp in said circuit, and means to limit the downward movement of said indicator and close the motor circuit, whereby the lamp is lighted and the motor operated to raise said indicator within the casing after said motor and indicator-supporting mechanism are again in engagement, substantially as d scribed.

6. In an electric railway signaling device, a casing therefor, a slot provided in the bot tom portion of said casing, an indicator lllOX ElblG through said slot, a cable to the lower end of which said indicator is attached, a shaft upon which the upper end of said cable winds, a gear fast on said shaft, a motor, an armature therein, a gear fast on said armature adapted to mesh with the gear on said shaft, electrical means controlled by an approaching car for drawing said first named gear out of engagement with the car on the armature, whereby the indicator may drop below the casing, resilient means for drawing said gears again into engagement with each other when said electrical means are inoperative, an electric circuit for the motor, an electric lamp in said circuit, a switch to open and close said circuit, and means carried by said cable adapted, in the downward movement of the latter, to engage said switch, to check the further downward movement of said indicator and close the motor circuit, whereby the lamp is lighted and motor operated to raise said indicator within the casing after said gears are again in engagement, substantially as described.

7 In an electric railway signaling device, a casing therefor, a slot provided in the bottom portion of said casing, an indicator movable through said slot, a cable to the lower end of which said indicator is at-- tached, a shaft upon which the upper end of said cable winds, hinged standards for supporting said shaft, a gear fast on said shaft, a motor, an armature shaft therein, a gear fast on said armature shaft adapted to mesh with the gear on said first named shaft, electrical means controlled by an approaching car to move said standards to draw said first named gear out of engagement with the gear on said armature shaft, whereby the indicator may drop downwardly, resilient means for drawing said gears again into engagement when said electrical means are inoperative, an electric circuit for the motor, a switch to open and close said circuit, contact bars on said switch, a knife arm adapted to be received between said bars, said arm having a forked end, a ball on said cable adapted to engage said forked end of the knife arm during the downward movement of said cable, to draw said arm into engagement with the contact bars, whereby a further downward movement of the indicator will be checked and the motor circuit closed, the motor adapted, when said circuit is closed, to raise the indicator within the casing after said gears are again in engagement, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of October, 1913.

FRED S. HART.

Witnesses:

HOWARD S. SMITH, CORRINNE Dncnson.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

